Drive
Time • • Written to play with the band on Prairie Home Companion.. I
was on the way to a session with Mike so we gave it a try.I ’m playing
my Kevin Ryan guitar which I use throughout the CD.
• • PD

K.C. Man Blues • • Inspired by the playing of Sidney Bechet,,this idea
has been knocking around in my head for twenty years.I didn ’t know how
to present it until Mike came along
• • PD

Novocaine • • According to my memory,,this very basic ragtime tune was the first tune I ever played with Mike.
• • PD

Last
Train Whistle • • This is a little waltz I wrote with a dressed up
Jimmie Rogers feel.I ’m playing my 1928 National tri-cone close to the
microphone.
• • MD

Guitar Blues (Eddie Lang)--A
Dowling/Donohue arrangement of Eddie Lang and Lonnie Johnson ’s
sparkling duet.We play it slightly differently, but with the same
tonalities and approach.Unlike Lonnie,Mike keeps to standard tuning
with his National El Trovador.
• • MD

My Honey’s
Lovin’ Arms (Joseph Meyer/Herman Ruby)• • One of my favorite tunes,it
plays nicely with thumb-style treatment and has great changes to blow
over.I ’ve always liked the idea of saving a verse till later in the
tune and I play it here as a single slide line before Pat takes the
tune out.
• • MD

Creepin’ • • We wrote this as a
tribute to ((not to be confused with ripoff of)a Django tune;which one
I can ’t even remember.I hope we covered our tracks.
• • PD

Wild
Rose • • This is a melody I ’ve had in my head for years.I showed Pat
the chords for it in the studio one day and it became a song on our
first take. I ’ve capoed my El Trovador at the fourth fret to enhance a
kind of woody sound that ’s not too deep in the register.Pat keeps a
low harmony.
• • MD

Fishin’ In the Wind • • I wrote
this tune shortly after moving out to Wyoming.I ’m fingerpicking the
melody on my Martin M-36 while holding a flat pick.Our guitars have a
similar sonority on this track.Pat takes the first solo.
• • MD

Two
of a Kind • • Really a piano boogie in the style of Pete Johnson or
Memphis Slim.Piano players sure have some good guitar licks!
• • PD

World
of Hurt • • This is my nod to Mississippi John Hurt,,one of my all-time
favorite players and an early source of inspiration for me.I ’m playing
my 1937 Style O.
• • MD

Blues City • • This tune
was originally meant for electric guitar, horns and a full band,but to
my surprise,it works well as a duo arrangement.I noticed when you play
with Mike,almost everything works.
• • PD

Java Buzz
• • I wrote this tune about ten years ago..It was inspired by the
mandolin style of Bill Kleppinger of the 6 &7/8 String Band of New
Orleans. Tri-cone used here.
• • MD

Siboney
(Ernesto Lecuona &Theodora Morse)• • During a break in the studio
one day Pat suggested I put down a solo tune and this is one I'd been
working on.I thank him for graciously encouraging me to include it on
this album of guitar duets.I ’ve arranged it for my El Trovador in open
G minor with adjustments to play major chords,rather than the other way
around.
• • MD

Gee Whiz • • One day I sat and
wondered what Chet Atkins would play if he had to come up with
something quick.This is what came out.The late great Mr.Guitar was a
hero to us both.
• • PD